BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: CONNECTICUT

September 15, 2009


VERBAL COMMITMENT ALERT: Jeremy Lamb, 6'4 SG from Norcross (GA) High School

Connecticut and head coach Jim Calhoun pick up their first verbal commitment for the 2010 recruiting class when Peach State sniper Jeremy Lamb made a commitment earlier today. Lamb is Headed to the Big East (D1 Spects) and UConn sealed the deal with an in-home visit today.



Projected 2009-2010 Roster:


Seniors: Jerome Dyson (G), Jonathan Mandeldove (C), Stanley Robinson (F), Gavin Edwards (PF/C)
Juniors: Donnell Beverly (G), Chukwuma "Charles" Okwandu (C)
Sophomores: Kemba Walker (PG)
Freshmen: Alex Oriakhi (C), Jamal Coombs-McDaniel (F), Jamaal Trice (SG), Darius Smith (PG), Ater Majok (F)
2010 Commitments: Jeremy Lamb (SG)



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It might have taken a little longer than their fans expected, but Connecticut is on the board for the class of 2010 as Jeremy Lamb chose the Huskies over Texas, Georgia and others.

Lamb exploded on the scene in July with a big-time performance at the Nike Peach Jam with the Georgia Stars. When the July evaluation period got back underway later in July, the following for Lamb grew tremendously as many coaches made sure they were seen following him at the Orlando Super Showcase. The UConn staff was front and center.

According to a high school coach in Georgia at the Peach Jam, Lamb “killed” them twice during the season and is only getting better. He is long and athletic and can score in a variety of ways. He had several strong takes to the basket and was effective finishing in a content NBE's Jeff Borzello watched at the Peach Jam. Lamb can also shoot mid-range and three-point jumpers, and he played well on the glass and defensively, too.

UConn is also very much in the mix for elite point guard prospects Josh Selby and Brandon Knight. A common belief in recruiting circles has UConn and Kentucky vying for both players with the Huskies likely to land one or the other. Other point guards in the mix with UConn include Cory Joseph of Findlay Prep and Kyrie Irving of St. Patrick's in Elizabeth (NJ).

At the foward position, UConn has been making an aggressive move for Roscoe Smith of Oak Hill Academy and Tobias Harris of Long Island. UConn has conducted in-home visits with each recently.

The Huskies could have at least five scholarships available for the class of 2010. With Lamb in the fold, expect some additional dominos to begin falling in the recruiting landscape and seeing UConn benefiting again in the near future would not be a surprise.

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UCONN PUSHING HARD FOR HARTFORD PREP SOPH

Andre Drummond getting attention from UConn staff and other top schools

by Zach Smart


The past few months, Andre Drummond's high major Division-I stock has shot up like his towering 6-foot-9 frame.

Drummond, an interior presence with a soft jumper and a will to win, has suddenly become a hotly pursued product on the recruiting marketplace.

The big fella from Capitol Prep in Hartford (CT) is receiving plenty of interest from Connecticut, Georgetown, Providence, Rutgers, West Virginia and the 2009 national champs, North Carolina.



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The wiry sophomore has added some pounds to his spindly 220-plus frame, but Drummond is still developing into his body.

He hasn't dug to deep into his decision yet. The uncommitted young gun who hung 26 points and tore down 18 rebounds in a game (and turned in similar titanic performances this season) appears to favor UConn.

"UConn is definitely showing me the most love right now," said Drummond, he of the will to win and ability to alter the trajectory of shots in the paint.

"But as of right now, I'm undecided."

Thus far, Drummond has taken unofficial visits to the campuses of UConn and Rutgers.

When he was playing in the Bob Gibbobs tournament last spring, he stopped by to check out the campus of UNC.

On the surface, Drummond seems like the prototype Jim Calhoun recruit.

He's a big who plays with passion and is a major presence on the defensive side of the house. He can score and has shown flashes of the aggression that coaches expect night in and night out in the Big East.

Of course, Drummond still needs to shore up some holes in his game. He needs to kick the habit of drifting away from the paint when the ball is not in his hands.

He still needs to get more physical, go stronger to the rack and develop refined post up moves.

Drummond ran with an IS8 AAU team at Saturday's HoopHall Classic at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn.

The behemoth showed his athletic enough to be a factor in a system that places strong emphasis on an uptempo, speedball brand of basketball.

While the skills of Ater Majok (who sat out this season due to NCAA clearing house rules) won't be tested until December, UConn may need to upgrade its frontline in the future.

Charles "Chuck" Okwandu's academic issues kept him off the floor for much of the Huskies run to the 2009 final four.

The 7-foot-1, 255-pound center is very much a work in progress and seemed offensivley inept at times.

Jonathan Mandeldove, a 7-foot, 240-pound center from Georgia, never progressed. He hasn't shown the promise they saw out of the skinny kid from Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy four years ago.

So, UConn will look to keep the tradition of beastly bigs (see Okafor, Emeka or Thabeet, Hasheem for more on this one) intact with their recruitment of Drummond.

Will the new kid on the blocks respect tradition and go to UConn?

I'm not for certain, but what I do know is this:

If he continues to work hard and show a Jeff Adrien-like will to win, more and more teams will compete for Drummond's services.

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PERSPECTIVE ON RICO PICKETT

April 3, 2009



According to a published report at Rivals.com, Miami-Dade CC shooting guard Rico Pickett is very interested in UConn and an official visit April 15th could seal the deal in his recruitment.

Recently, NBE Basketball Report talked with Pickett's coach at Miami-Dade, Matt Eisele.

"Enrico has a chance to be a big time player," coach Eisele said. "He is very good in transition, can finish with either hand, [he is a] big time athlete and most of all [he] can really score the basketball."

Pickett was a high school star at Decatur (AL) High School. He made an early commitment to home state Alabama and coach Mark Gottfried before the AAU travel season between his junior and senior season. However, Pickett re-opened his his recruitment at least once prior to the early signing period, but in the end, put pen to paper and signed on with the Crimson Tide.

As a freshman in the SEC, Pickett started 20 games for the Tide, averaging nearly 6 points a game and a team-high 3.3 assists a contest playing a lot of time at point guard. The season had its shares of ups and downs for the 6-foot-3 guard as he was suspended twice by coach Gottfried for 'failing to live up to academic responsibilities.' The second suspension, which was imposed last April, led Pickett to decide he wanted to transfer and led to him finding his way to Miami-Dade CC on his way back to high-major Division 1-A basketball.

The next desitnation appears it could be UConn. Pickett has also had high-level intertest this spring in Florida, Florida State and Tennessee. On the heels of an excellent season with Miami-Dade, which saw Pickett average 21.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists, Rico was the runner-up in conference player of the year voting, only trailing teammate Trevor Mbakwe for the award.

Coach Eisele feels Pickett will shine at his next chance at the 1-A level and his game sounds like a nice fit in Jim Calhoun's Husky system.

"He has a great ability to get to the basket and beat people off the dribble," said his coach. "Has the potential to be a lights out defender as well"

As for the troubles at Alabama, Eisele saw none of that in Pickett's time at Miami-Dade.

"He is a great kid that has been a real pleasure to coach," Eisele said.


We will continue to follow Pickett's recruitment, but as of now, UConn looks to be the only scheduled visit this spring.

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Smith Bolsters Thinning Backcourt in Storrs

April 2, 2009


by Doug Ferguson




The city of Chicago is flooded with top notch Division 1-A talent and one of the most eye-catching stars of the city has found a home outside of the Midwest. Talented combo guard Darius Smith from Chicago's Marshall HS has agreed to try and fill the hole that will be left in UConn's guard corps by the departures of A.J. Price and Craig Austrie next season.

The job of starting point guard will likely be passed through its logical progression to Kemba Walker who has shined on the big stage in this year's NCAA tournament. Smith will likely battle for the backup job with Donnell Beverly. It just happens that Smith and Beverly have many of the same qualities. It was clear by this recruitment that Jim Calhoun thinks his lineup at guard needed more tending to than his frontline, despite the almost certain loss of Hasheem Thabeet to the NBA. It shows Calhoun's faith in incoming freshman Alex Oriakhi who is he invisions as his future Thabeet/Emeka Okafor type defensive difference maker at the center position.

Smith is a better point guard than a two-guard. Make no mistake though, he can definitely score. He has the athleticism and ability to drive the basketball to succeed at the high D-1 level. His ability to knock down shots off the dribble both in the mid-range game and from 3-point line make his penetration that much more lethal. He plays superb man defense with excellent ball pressure. He spearheaded Marshall's full court defense this season which was downright smothering when at its best.

UConn has shown that they are not going to be shy about recruiting despite recent reports of possible NCAA violations, afterall, it is recruiting that is the lifeblood of a program and the cornerstone of a programs college basketball odds of competing for a title. Calhoun has also shown that they can multi-task as they found time to seal the deal with Smith while preparing to try and win his third national title in a decade. It would put him on an elite list of coaching that has only two names on it: John Wooden and Mike Krzyzewski. He will face off with another coach who is building toward legend status in Tom Izzo. By the way they're recruiting it seems that despite the success that the program has had in the recent past, they will not choose to live there in the future.

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BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: CONNECTICUT

March 30, 2009


VERBAL COMMITMENT ALERT: Darius Smith, 6'2 PG from Chicago (IL) Marshall HS


Projected 2009-2010 Roster:


Seniors: Jerome Dyson (G), Jonathan Mandeldove (C), Stanley Robinson (F), Gavin Edwards (PF/C), Hasheem Thabeet (C)
Juniors: Donnell Beverly (G), Chukwuma "Charles" Okwandu (C)
Sophomores: Kemba Walker (PG), Scottie Haralson
Freshmen: Alex Oriakhi (C), Jamal Coombs-McDaniel (F), Jamaal Trice (SG), Darius Smith (PG)


One of the strangest recruiting sagas out of the Windy City has come to a close as standout Marshall High School guard Darius Smith is a Husky (Hartford Courant) as the 6'2 prospect surprises many following his recruitment by picking Connecticut over Marquette, DePaul, Cincinnati, Missouri and Indiana.

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As the UConn Huskies are preparing for the 2009 Final Four, coach Jim Calhoun and his staff struck on the recruiting trail by plucking one of the top unsigned seniors in the country remaining in the class of 2009 as they received a verbal commitment from Darius Smith of Marshall HS in the city of Chicago.

Smith has had an excellent senior season which only enhanced his status as one of the top players in the 2009 class. His senior season performance with the Commandos had him as the near unanimous pick of Windy City analysts as the top player in the Chicago-land area in the 2009 class.

Smith can get it done on both ends of the floor as an excellent on the ball defender with athletic ability and length and he can also score points from his lead guard position. While playing with the Illinois Warriors Smith showed the ability to be a ball-hawking defender with quick hands and playing defense with intensity.

With AJ Price graduating and Kemba Walker assuming the key role next season, Smith has the ability to play both guard positions with a player like Walker and run the show after he moves on. Smith is expected to sign a letter of intent in the spring signing period which will begin in two weeks.

For more on Smith's commitment and his recruitment, Illinois Prep Bulls-eye is a tremendous resource to check out.

Jamaal Trice finished up a high school career at powerful Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana (CA) and headed off to do a year of prep basketball at Mt. Zion Christian Academy in Durham (NC). It looks like the move paid off as Trice is now a committed player in the class of 2009 for the Connecticut Huskies and is expected to sign a LOI with Smith this spring.

Trice played on an always loaded mater Dei team in 2007-2008 and averaged around 10 points a game. Trice and Smith will join Tilton School teammates Alex Oriakhi and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel as 2009-2010 freshmen for the Huskies.

Some of UConn's recruiting needs and priorities have been scrambled a bit since the fall as Nate Miles, a 6'7 wing, and 6'10 forward Ater Majok are not with the team. Miles was dismissed from school in his first month on the UConn campus. Majok has was partially cleared by the NCAA and will be eligible, academically, to begin playing in December of 2009. His saga is ongoing now, however, as a recruiting scandal with Miles and an agent, Josh Nochimson, a former UConn team manager, has called into question if UConn violated NCAA rules. Majok is Linked to the Agent in the Miles Case as there are 'Moore' Worries for UConn off the court than on during this Final Four run.

On paper, UConn is full on scholarships for 2009-2010. It is expected that Hasheem Thabeet would turn professional, which would open an additional scholarship. Expect UConn to be in the mix with some top players that either are, or become eligible in the spring recruiting period as the coaching carousel will likely spin as well.

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MOORE WORRIES AT UCONN

By Zach Smart

When Tom Moore became a newly-minted member of the Jim Calhoun coaching tree--a tall one that's branched out from Maine to George Washington University--his purpose was to alter the perception of a Quinnipiac program striving for national visibility.
With sudden bombshell allegations charging that Moore--who served under Calhoun for 13 years at UConn (spending his last two as UConn's Associate Head Coach) has violated NCAA rules in the recruitment of Nate Miles, the perception of Moore could be altered as well.

Moore appeared to be a promising steal for Quinnipiac, located near the mountains in Hamden, Conn.

The school desperately looking to revive its basketball team, an afterthought with the Bobcats' nationally ranked hockey team making all the winter sports noise, forked over a prince's ransom ($300,000 a year) for Moore in 2007.

Widely regarded as one of the nation's top recruiters (see Allen, Ray or Hamilton, Richard for more info) high expectations, hype, and hearsay moved around the school's scenic campus faster than word of a beerfest.

Moore has certainly enhanced the image of the once bottom feeder of the Northeast Conference, though he's had two mediocre seasons so far.

Being mired in a recruiting scandal of this ilk could be a major blow to his reputation.
Moore allegedly served as a middle man in the Nate Miles operation, sending Nate Miles in the direction of agent and former UConn team manager Josh Nochimsom's direction.
The NCAA has a houdini-like NOT WANTED HERE sign to agents at all times.

Nochimson, who supposedly provided Miles--suspended in October for violating a restraining order--with lodging, transportation, restaurant meals and representation (the worst of all), had a feud with the aforementioned Hamilton.

While serving as Rip's agent, Nochimson reportedly stole more than $1 million from the current Detroit Piston.

Moore is also caught making an excessive number of phone calls to Sean Patterson, Miles' AAU coach and parental guardian.

Nochimson also was involved with UConn freshman Ater Majok, who sat out this year due to NCAA clearing house rules.

It looks like Moore's pipeline to UConn is still very much intact, because QU has a 6-foot-7 forward from Africa rumored to be Majok's first cousin.

The player did not suit up this year but is slated to walk-on next year.

Still, it's too early to pass judgement.

Could Moore's regal reputation and Calhoun's golden legacy be on the line here?
I'm not certain, only time will tell.

I do know, however, that former UConn beat writer Adrian Wojnarowski contributed to the Yahoo! Sports report.

Wojnarowski lived in Connecticut and wrote for a newspaper in Waterbury.
He was always feuding with the Hall of Fame coach and more often than not, got owned by the aging game general.

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ATER MAJOK LINKED TO AGENT IN MILES CASE

March 26, 2009


By Zach Smart

On the court, UConn has mastered the art of playing above the law.

Unlike the 1993 and 1996 Chicago Bulls, however, it's not due to preferential treatment from the boys sporting the zebra shorts. Let's not forget, Jim Calhoun wasn't too happy with one ref (apparently longtime Big East official Mike Kitts) when UConn suffered a bruising, black-and-blue brand of loss on Feb. 16 at the XL Center in Hartford against Pittsburgh.

While the Huskies have imposed their will and inside physical firepower on teams--thanks mainly to the tandem of monster bigs Hasheem Thabeet and Jeff Adrien--they've steered clear of foul trouble.

On the court, that is.

Off the court, allegations of potentially significant recruiting violations have made the Huskies look more like "cheetas," as they say on 125th St.

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If this Yahoo! Sports investigation comes to fruition and Calhoun and former UConn assistant Tom Moore--the aloof character who was paid a king's ransom to take over an ailing small Division-I program in Quinnipiac in 2007--are nailed....

Well, one legacy is tainted while another up-and-coming coach's reputation is severely dented.

According to a recent report by espn.com, since-expelled forward Nate Miles isn't the only player who UConn pulled dangerous strings to reel in.

Josh Nochimson, who's charged with providing Miles with representation, lodging, and so on is reportedly connected to UConn freshman Ater Majok as well.

Majok, a 22-year-old (and I thought I was the only dude to finish college late!)., a top prospect from the Sudan via Australia, was supposed to play this season.

Due to NCAA clearinghouse rules, however, Majok's 6-foot-10 frame was relegated to the bench.

Nochimsom, a sports agent and former team manager at UConn, allegedly catered to Majok.

ESPN's report states that Nochimson personally got Majok into a high school all-star game, the Kentucky Derby Festival in Louisville, Ky., last spring.

He provided him with transportation and freed up a spot for him with his influence, the report indicates.

Ironic that the two players that UConn bent the rules to reel in have not registered a second in a UConn game this season.

Majok will not be eligible to play until December.

Majok's youtube clip makes him out to be the second coming, while coach Ed Smith--who coached Majok in Australia and has been with him on several visits to UConn talks about what a special player he could potentially be.

Calhoun was not his usual mad dog self in the aftermath of allegations.

He was serene and meek when approached by the media, choosing to instead focus on the pivotal game against Purdue.

"The student-athlete (Miles) is not involved with our program, he was cleared by compliance people, an outside source-a legal source-and the NCAA," explained Calhoun.

"Something was written. We take very seriously our responsibility as NCAA members."

The loquacious, longtime Husky coach continued, "All I know is to go forward, stand up and be counted. That's exactly what I plan to do, and get my team as ready as I possibly can to play Purdue (tonight). That's what I know how to do.

This is nothing short of a royal mess.

Of intriguing note, however, is that two of the Yahoo.com writers who unraveled the report--are former UConn beat writers.

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JABARI HINDS NEXT AT MOUNT VERNON

January 26, 2009

by Zach Smart


NEW YORK—Bob Cimmino’s Mount Vernon Knights basketball program has been a steady pipeline to the Division 1-A ranks in recent seasons. This year’s hot prospect is Sherrod Wright, who followed Kevin Jones, who followed Jonathan Mitchell and there was also Keith Benjamin, Ben Gordon and on and on. From all indications, current sophomore point guard Jabari Hinds is next in line.

Hinds’ Division-I stock is starting to soar, as Villanova, Marquette, Virginia, and UNLV are all competing for the young gun’s future services. Hinds said that UNLV and Virginia have already made a scholarship offers and Jim Calhoun and the Connecticut Huskies have expressed considerable interest in the Mount Vernon sophomore.

He’s most impressed, however, with what UConn has to offer. The Knights took in the Huskies’ win over Seton Hall at Hartford last weekend, and Hinds got acquainted with UConn’s coaching staff.

“Right now from what I see, I love it,” said Hinds, a budding point guard for the nationally-ranked Knights (10-2).

“I’ve got a couple of Big East schools looking at me, so it should be interesting.”

Calhoun, along with a coaching staff that’s widely recognized as one of the nation’s top recruiting combinations, have been in active pursuit of Hinds. Hinds shined at the SNY Invitational at NYU’s Coles Center this weekend, his performance going from efficient to electrifying.

In the Knights’ win over Brooklyn power Thomas Jefferson High, Hinds and explosive scorer Sherrod Wright (32 points) got the better of Jefferson’s three-headed monster of Keith Spellman, Davontay Grace and Joel “Air Jamaica” Wright.

Recovering from a shaky first half (four assists to five turnovers), Hinds dropped 14 points and handed out five dimes.

In the championship, Hinds played beyond his years as Mount Vernon shellacked St. Raymond’s, 70-54. The wiry 6-foot guard scored 18 points (8-for-13 FG), dealt out four assists, played stingy defense (he recorded five steals as the Knights forced St. Ray’s into 22 turnovers), and converted two steals into rim-rattling fast break dunks.

This season, Hinds is the perfect supplement to Wright, an off guard who averages 23.4 points.

The Right Fit?

As a Hall of Fame coach who’s turned UConn into an NBA breeding house and a top-notch Big East program, Calhoun has an affinity for New York guards. The New York style of play is fitting for Calhoun’s speedball, hellfire offensive approach.

A.J. Price and Kemba Walker, two of the Huskies top guards, both hail from the New York area. Price starred at Amityville High in Long Island and Walker re-wrote the record book at Rice High in Harlem.

Former Husky and current Chicago Bull Ben Gordon, who helped lead the Huskies to a 2004 national championship, played at Mount Vernon under Bob Cimmino.

Cimmino, who’s architected a perennial power, Big East pipeline (Rutgers’ Jonathon Mitchell and Michael Coburn, former Pittsburgh star Keith Benjamin were all cropped up in the system that breeds all homegrown talent) and Division-I launchpad, maintains close ties with the UConn coaching staff.

Since ascending to NBA star status, Gordon—who shelled out a boatload of cash to prevent the school system from eliminating interscholastic sports—has been a major local presence.

As a player who made it out of Mount Vernon and watched his game skyrocket, Gordon could very well have an influence on Hinds’ decision.

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BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: CONNECTICUT

December 31, 2008


VERBAL COMMITMENT ALERT: Jamaal Trice, 6'4 SG from Mt. Zion (NC) Christian Academy via Los Angeles


Projected 2009-2010 Roster:


Seniors: Jerome Dyson (G), Jonathan Mandeldove (C), Stanley Robinson (F), Gavin Edwards (PF/C), Hasheem Thabeet (C)
Juniors: Donnell Beverly (G), Chukwuma "Charles" Okwandu (C)
Sophomores: Kemba Walker (PG), Scottie Haralson
Freshmen: Alex Oriakhi (C), Jamal Coombs (F), Jamaal Trice (SG)


The recruiting news out of Storrs has been rather quiet. With the only two players to sign with UConn in the fall, Alex Oriakhi and Jamal Cooms, being committed to the Huskies since their sophomore years, recruiting in the 2009 class has been slow. However, the Huskies have been attempting to fill a need at shooting guard and looks to have found their man as UConn Gets a Commitment from Jamaal Trice (Waterbury Rep-Am) during a recent visit.

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Jamaal Trice finished up a high school career at powerful Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana (CA) abd headed off to do a year of prep basketball at Mt. Zion Christian Academy in Durham (NC). It looks like the move paid off as Trice is now a committed player in the class of 2009 for the Connecticut Huskies.

Trice played on an always loaded mater Dei team in 2007-2008 and averaged around 10 points a game. He will join Tilton School teammates Alex Oriakhi and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel as 2009-2010 freshmen for the Huskies.

Some of UConn's recruiting needs and priorities have been scrambled a bit since the fall as Nate Miles, a 6'7 wing, and 6'10 forward Ater Majok are not with the team. Miles was dismissed from school in his first month on the UConn campus. Majok has yet to be cleared by the NCAA eligibility clearinghouse. His saga is ongoing, he could still join the program for the later part of the 2008-2009 season. UConn begins their spring semester in three weeks, so we will know by then.

On paper, UConn has one scholarship remaining for 2009-2010. It is expected that Hasheem Thabeet would turn professional, which would open an additional scholarship. Expect UConn to be int he mix with some top players that either are, or become eligible in the spring recruiting period.

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ORIAKHI & COOMBS IMPROVING AT TILTON

September 19, 2008


It seems that Alex Oriakhi and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel have been part of the UConn program forever, yet, they are still 14 months away from even being eligible to step on the floor for a game in a Connecticut uniform.

Prior to their sophomore seasons in high school, two years ago, the BABC AAU duo made verbal commitments to the Connecticut program and coach Jim Calhoun, the earliest commitments accepted by the Hall of Fame coach.

Now, after teamming up on the AAU circuit for another impressive summer, the pair is back at the Tilton School in New Hampshire working at improving their game in hopes of repeating as the NEPSAC Class B champions for coach Marcus O'Neal.

"Jamal has returned to Tilton School and is working hard in the weight room," Coach O'Neil stated, noting that Coombs-McDaniel now stands at 6-foot-7 and currently weighs 210 pounds. "He continues to tighten up his handle and long range shooting."

Coombs-McDaniel ended last season on a high note with an MVP perfoprmance in the NEPSAC Class B championship game, registering 28 points and 16 rebounds in the finale. He continues to impress his current prep coach with the improvements on and off the court.

Read More on Oriakhi and Coombs-McDaniel...Click Below!


"His ability to get to the rim and finish with either hand has improved, Coach O'Neil notes. "He is providing great senior leadership, waking his teammates up at 6 am several mornings a week to run hills."

Jamal's ability to be a two-way player will help him contribute early at the next level. His tenacious play and desire to win should fit very well with his future coach, a Hall of Famer in Jim Calhoun, who demonstrates similar traits on the sidelines, either in a game or at practice.

"Jamal is a tenacious competitor who finds a way to help a team win on both ends of the court," O'Neil says. "He rebounds, defends, scores and brings consistently high energy. I expect that his versatility, work ethic and competitiveness will impress the coaches at UConn. Jamal will do anything to get on the court and contribute."

In the Tilton post resides the intimidating presence of 6-foot-9, 230 pound Alex Oriakhi. Those who have seen Oriakhi know he already looks ready for college basketball. We have news for you...he is still working on getting stronger and more physical.

"Alex continues to work on his already impressive physique in the weight room and has been relentless with agility work," his coach notes. "For a guy his size and age, he is moving extremely well and is not satisfied where he is."

Oriakhi shows his will to improve by expanding his game away from the hoop. Proof positive he is not satisfied where he is.

"He gets into the gym and works on his overall skill, including his shooting range which extends to 20 feet." Coach O'Neil continued that "(Oriakhi) has become more vocal and is embracing his role as a leader on the Tilton team. He has been very consistent with his effort and is improving in transition."

The Huskies will be losing Jeff Adrien to graduation and, most likely, Hasheem Thabeet to the NBA after this coming season. Coach O'Neil has no reservations that his current big man will be ready to fill those large shoes early in his UConn career.

"With an expected void in UConn's frontcourt, Alex will be determined to battle for a substantial role on the team," says Coach O'Neil. "It is very difficult to find players with his athleticism, skill and size. He should be able to help in some capacity, immediately."


For more on the Tilton program, including another teammate that the Connecticut staff is very interested in, be sure to visit the NBE Basketball Report.

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UCONN A FINALIST FOR UPSTATE NY GUARD

August 20, 2008


by Raymond Balter


Upstate New York is not an area that is generally considered a hotbed of high-major Division 1 basketball talent, certainly not when compared with the more urban and metropolitan areas further south. That’s not to say that great players can’t exist up north, and judging by the final four schools that comprise Brandon Triche’s list, he certainly qualifies as one the top overall players in the Empire State’s 2009 class. The Dewitt, NY native said that he hopes to decide on one of those four schools by the November signing period.

The four schools that appear to have made the cut and form the list from which the eventual winner for his services will come from are Syracuse, Georgetown, Connecticut, and Georgia Tech.

Triche had this to say about Connecticut: “They have a Hall of Fame coach, and the competition at the guard spot will make me a better player."

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UCONN EXPECTING WEEKEND VISITORS

August 8, 2008


Jim Calhoun Charity All-Star Classic will attract a crowd


This weekend is like Jim Calhoun’s family reunion as the Jim Calhoun Charity All-Star Game will take place Saturday at the Mohegan Sun Arena. It is a chance for the Connecticut program to flex its powerful muscles as they bring together the Ben Gordon’s, Ray Allen’s, Rudy Gay’s, etc of their world in the star-studded reunion.

It is also a perfect time to bring some recruits to see the festivities and there is a good possibility that Omari Lawrence and Kevin Parrom will take on some of the action from the weekend, either on campus Friday or at the event on Saturday. Either way, Lawrence and Parrom will be Seeing Stars (Hartford Courant) as well as the UConn program.

Current class of 2009 commit Jamal Coombs will also be on hand Saturday night, along with Gerard Coleman. The Boston Area Basketball Club Guys (Hartford Courant), along with teammates Alex Oriakhi, another 2009 UConn commitment, and Phil Pressey did not make it for the recent UConn Elite camp due to their deep run in the AAU Nationals in Florida. Oriakhi and Pressey, who along with Coleman is a 2010 recruit, will be in Oregon this weekend for the Nike Global Games and unable to attend.

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TOBIAS HARRIS ATTENDS UCONN ELITE CAMP

August 7, 2008


On Sunday and Monday, Jim Calhoun hosted his second annual Connecticut Elite Basketball Camp at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs. For the second consecutive summer, 2010 elite recruit Tobias Harris was in attendance.

Harris, a 6-foot-8 forward from Half Hollows Hills West High School on Long Island, was unable to participate in any on-court action due to a thumb injury suffered in the AAU Nationals in Orlando recently. Tobias was not the only Harris at the camp, younger brother Tyler, just 14 years old, participated in the UConn camp.

"Tobias and Tyler thought the camp was good, they had a chance to speak in depth with Rudy Gay," Torrel Harris, Jr, father of Tobias and Tyler, told the NBE Basketball Report in an e-mail. "Tobias loves the way Rudy playshe paid very close attention when Rudy was speaking directly to him at the camp."

Gay was able to deliver some poignant advice for the campers, advice that hopefully all will use to improve their game.

"Rudy discussed how to take advantages of your opponent on the court and how he does it," Mr. Harris said. "When practicing on your game, practice like it (is) your last game you will play."

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CONNECTICUT ELITE CAMP NOTES

August 4, 2008

It is a very big recruiting time at Connecticut with the second annual Jim Calhoun Elite Camp in the UConn campus. Some of the biggest names on the recruiting landscape were in attendance as the Elite Camp Gives Top Recruits a Good Look at the Huskies (Norwich Bulletin).

Daniel Orton, a 6-foot-10, 267 pound center from Oklahoma might be the biggest name at the camp. Orton has pared his school list down to UCLA, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Kentucky and Connecticut and might follow the new trend, fashioned by Tyreke Evans, of waiting until the spring to make a decision.

Another impressive prospect on hand was St. Anthony’s shooting guard Dominic Cheek, who told the Norwich Bulletin that the Huskies will ‘definitely’ be among his top choices as Cheek Works on Cutting List (ZagsBlog.net) and, along with coach Calhoun offering a comparison to Ray Allen, the chance to play with Kemba Walker intrigues Cheek very much. Cheek and Walker formed a bond while playing with the USA U-18 team earlier this summer and Cheek May Follow Walker to UConn (Connecticut Post). Of course, Cheek is also close to the other U-18 point guard, Maalik Wayns, who has committed to Villanova. Cheek indicated that the Wildcats, along with the Huskies, Tennessee, Wake Forest and Kansas will make the pared down list of schools he will consider, among others.

Other Elite Camp Notes (Hartford Courant) mentions that the Husky staff is very high on Walker’s former Rice HS teammate Durand Scott and believe the 6-foot-4 swing man can make as much of an immediate impact as Cheek.

Patrick Young, a 6-foot-9 big man from Florida will transfer to the Winchendon School and is very high on Connecticut. Young will re-classify into the class of 2010, so he is still wide open in the recruiting process. Another Florida stud from the class of 2010 was expected to make the trip, but after a deep run (championship) in the AAU Nationals, Brandon Knight decided taking a break from the AAU and camp circuit was a better idea.

As for the Current Huskies, Jonathan Mandeldove, Craig Austrie (showing off an improved physique) and Stanley Robinson, although not currently part of the team, worked as counselors at the camp on Sunday. AJ Price looked very good in a workout with a team trainer. Kemba Walker’s passing ability drew a Marcus Williams comparison from coach Jim Calhoun.

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UCONN HOOPS TARGET SHINES AT NBA CAMP

June 25, 2008

by Ron Bailey


Jordan Hamilton – 6’7”, 210 pounds (Connecticut, Syracuse, Pac 10, Big 12, SEC) – Okay, one word suffices for Hamilton…WOW, as the junior can do it all offensively, including drive, bring the ball up the floor, and shoot. You see him play, and you know UConn is probably touting him as the next Ray Allen/Rip Hamilton, while Syracuse is evoking the likes of Carmelo Anthony. The kid flat gets it done.

A junior from the Los Angeles area, Hamilton will have to commit to defense more wherever he lands. Expect college to be pit stop for him in route to the pros – Hamilton has big time talent.


For more on the NBA Top 100 Camp Player evals, see Ron Bailey's additional stories at the NBE Basketball Report or i95ballerz.com.

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BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: CONNECTICUT

April 28, 2008


COMMITMENT ALERT: Ater Majok, 6'10 F from Australia via Sudan


Projected 2008-2009 Roster:


Seniors: AJ Price (G), Jeff Adrien (F), Craig Austrie (G).
Juniors: Jerome Dyson (G), Jonathan Mandeldove (C), Stanley Robinson (F), Gavin Edwards (PF/C), Hasheem Thabeet (C)
Sophomores: Donnell Beverly (G), Chukwuma "Charles" Okwandu (C)
Freshmen: Nate Miles (G/F), Kemba Walker (PG), Scottie Haralson (SG), Ater Majok (F)
2009 Commitments: Alex Oriakhi (C), Jamal Coombs (F)

One day after Hasheem Thabeet announced he would resist the urge to test the NBA Draft waters, more good news comes to the Connecticut basketball program with Ater Majok committing to UConn. Majok is a Husky (Hartford Courant) after officially visiting the campus recently.

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Ater Majok, a 6'10 skilled forward, living in Australia after coming from the Sudan, has committed to the Connecticut Huskies. Majok has been the top target of Jim Calhoun and his staff for several months and their efforts were rewarded when Majok made a verbal commitment today. Majok is expected to sign his letter of intent by the end of the week.

Majok is the third player to commit this spring to the Husky program, joining Chukwuma Okwandu and Scottie Harralson. With Kemba Walker already signed from the fall recruiting period and Nate Miles still in the picture, the Huskies are currently one over the NCAA scholarship limit of 13 if everyone enrolls and is eligible. Of course, the Nate Miles situation is far from clear at this point in time.

Already this spring, Curtis Kelly and Doug Wiggins have left the program to make room for the newcomers.

Connecticut assistant Andre LaFleur was instrumental in providing the in with Majok that Connecticut needed. LaFleur has known Majok's guardian and coach in Australia, Edward Smith for years as they have worked together on basketball programs in the land Down Under. Majok wil bring his skilled and versatile game to Storrs next season and should be a perfect compliment to the frontline of Thabeet, Jeff Adrien and Stanley Robinson on a team with very high expectations.

Chukwuma "Charles" Okwandu had a long journey coming to the United States by way of Nigeria and trying to reach the Division 1-A ranks to help him make a living playing basketball. Originally headed to Arizona, visa problems forced that plan to be on hold and Okwandu has been at a couple junior colleges the last few years, playing 12 games this past season at Harcum before questions about his letter of intent forced him out of the line-up for the rest of the season. In those 12 games, Okwandu averaged about 7 points per game and 8 rebounds a contest while shooting 57% from the field.

The plus side to Okwandu, besides being 7'1, is he will have three years of eligibility left when he arrives at UConn next fall. Okwandu recently visited the campus in Storrs and made an oral commitment earlier this month. West Virginia and Villanova, among others, were considered at the end as well.

Also on hand for Okwandu's visit was Scottie Haralson who committed to UConn verbally at the end of January. On the first day of the spring signing period, the Huskies recieved the signed letter of intent from Harralson.

Around the holidays, UConn headed to Florida to play UCF and also to do some recruiting. One player that caught their eye was Provine High School's Haralson, who put together four high-scoring outings at the talent-laden Amare Stoudemire Invitational Classic in Florida. The sharp-shooting 6'4 guard is averaged over 22 pts/game for coach Luther Riley.

Haralson will definitely join NYC Rice point guard Kemba Walker in the 2008 UConn class, which also looks to be adding Okwandu and now Majok. Things are still up in the air at this point on Nate Miles. Miles, a 6'7 swingman from Toledo, Ohio, is awaiting word from the NCAA Claringhouse. He had hoped to enroll at UConn for the previous semester, which began in January. Miles has obtained a diploma from The Patterson Schools (Lenoir, N.C.) and has received a qualifying score on the ACT. But he has also attended six high schools in the last five years and a preliminary decision from the NCAA was not in his favor. Also, UConn would have to accept him as a student as well and they will look to make his case for Fall entry.

Already this spring, Doug Wiggins has left the program and the speculation around Curtis Kelly ended last week when he announced he would transfer. If Miles enrolls and Kelly moving on, that leaves a full roster of 13 with Thabeet returning. Now adding Majok, the Huskies could be one over thge limit...but, you never know what will happen next...

Connecticut will also look to replace three seniors with recruiting for the 2009 class and got off to an extremely early start when they secured commitments from New England prep school standouts Alex Oriakhi (C) and Jamal Coombs (F) in what seemed like a generation ago. You can be sure that elite targets in the class of 2009 will be seeing if the UConn staff is on their trail this spring.

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BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: CONNECTICUT

April 16, 2008


COMMITMENT ALERT: Chukwuma "Charles" Okwandu (C), Harcum College (PA)


Projected 2008-2009 Roster:


Seniors: AJ Price (G), Jeff Adrien (F), Craig Austrie (G).
Juniors: Curtis Kelly (BF/C), Jerome Dyson (G), Jonathan Mandeldove (C), Stanley Robinson (F), Gavin Edwards (PF/C), Hasheem Thabeet (C)
Sophomores: Donnell Beverly (G), Chukwuma "Charles" Okwandu (C)
Freshmen: Nate Miles (G/F), Kemba Walker (PG), Scottie Haralson (SG)
2009 Commitments: Alex Oriakhi (C), Jamal Coombs (F)

While the NBA Draft status of Hasheem Thabeet remains to be settles, Jim Calhoun landed a nice piece of insurance as UConn Lands 7'1 Recruit From Nigeria (Hartford Courant) in Chukwuma "Charles" Okwandu out of Harcum College in Philadelphia.

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Chukwuma "Charles" Okwandu has had a long journey coming to the United States by way of Nigeria and trying to reach the Division 1-A ranks to help him make a living playing basketball. Originally headed to Arizona, visa problems forced that plan to be on hold and Okwandu has been at a couple junior colleges the last few years, playing 12 games this past season at Harcum before questions about his letter of intent forced him out of the line-up for the rest of the season. In those 12 games, Okwandu averaged about 7 points per game and 8 rebounds a contest while shooting 57% from the field.

The plus side to Okwandu, besides being 7'1, is he will have three years of eligibility left when he arrives at UConn next fall. Okwandu recently visited the campus in Storrs and made an oral commitment earlier today, he is expected to sign a letter of intent this week. West Virginia and Villanova, among others, were considered at the end as well.

Also on hand for Okwandu's visit was Scottie Haralson who committed to UConn verbally at the end of January. Today, on the first day of the spring signing period, the Huskies recieved the signed letter of intent from Harralson.

Around the holidays, UConn headed to Florida to play UCF and also to do some recruiting. One player that caught their eye was Provine High School's Haralson, who put together four high-scoring outings at the talent-laden Amare Stoudemire Invitational Classic in Florida. The sharp-shooting 6'4 guard is averaged over 22 pts/game for coach Luther Riley.

Haralson will definitely join NYC Rice point guard Kemba Walker in the 2008 UConn class, which also looks to be adding Okwandu. Things are still up in the air at this point on Nate Miles. Miles, a 6'7 swingman from Toledo, Ohio, is awaiting word from the NCAA Claringhouse. He had hoped to enroll at UConn for the previous semester, which began in January. Miles has obtained a diploma from The Patterson Schools (Lenoir, N.C.) and has received a qualifying score on the ACT. But he has also attended six high schools in the last five years and a preliminary decision from the NCAA was not in his favor. Also, UConn would have to accept him as a student as well and they will look to make his case for Fall entry.

Already this spring, Doug Wiggins has left the program and speculation that Curtis Kelly would also be leaving has been very prominent this spring. If Miles enrolls and Kelly moves on, that leaves a full roster of 13. That is counting Thabeet who still could opt for the NBA Draft. UConn is expecting 6'9 forward Ater Majok for an official visit to the campus April 24th and the Huskies have made him their recruiting priority the last few months. Several reports have listed the Huskies as his leader. So, UConn might not be done yet with the class of 2008.

Connecticut will also look to replace three seniors with recruiting for the 2009 class and got off to an extremely early start when they secured commitments from New England prep school standouts Alex Oriakhi (C) and Jamal Coombs (F) in what seemed like a generation ago. You can be sure that elite targets in the class of 2009 will be seeing if the UConn staff is on their trail this spring.

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BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: CONNECTICUT

January 27, 2008


VERBAL COMMITMENT ALERT: Scottie Haralson (SG), Jackson (MI)


Projected 2008-2009 Roster:


Seniors: AJ Price (G), Jeff Adrien (F), Craig Austrie (G).
Juniors: Curtis Kelly (BF/C), Jerome Dyson (G), Jonathan Mandeldove (C), Stanley Robinson (F), Doug Wiggins (PG), Gavin Edwards (PF/C), Hasheem Thabeet (C)
Sophomores: Donnell Beverly (G)
Freshmen: Nate Miles (G/F), Kemba Walker (PG), Scottie Haralson (SG)
2009 Commitments: Alex Oriakhi (C), Jamal Coombs (F)

The Nate Miles saga will continue as he tries to gain clearance from the NCAA Clearinghouse to join the Connecticut program either this spring or next fall. In the meantime, Jim Calhoun and the UConn staff gained a commitment Friday from 6'4 guard Scottie Haralson from Jackson (MI) and Provine High School. Provine's Haralson Commits to UConn (Jackson Clarion Ledger) and was targeted for his ability to shoot the basketball.

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Around the holidays, UConn headed to Florida to play UCF and also to do some recruiting. One player that caught their eye was Provine High School's Scottie Haralson who put together four high-scoring outings at the talent-laden Amare Stoudemire Invitational Classic in Florida. The sharp-shooting 6'4 guard is averaging over 22 pts/game for coach Luther Riley. Provine High School is 16-7 on the season. He had a scholarship offer from Auburn and schools like Providence, Wake Forest and others were showing interest.

Haralson plans to sign in April and expects to make an official visit to Storrs later this winter. He will definitely join NYC Rice point guard Kemba Walker in the 2008 UConn class. Things are still up in the air at this point on Nate Miles. Miles, a 6'7 swingman from Toledo, Ohio, is awaiting word from the NCAA Claringhouse. He had hoped to enroll at UConn for the current semester, which began this week. To begin this semester, Miles would need a decision from the Clearinghouse by February 4th. Miles has obtained a diploma from The Patterson Schools (Lenoir, N.C.) and has received a qualifying score on the ACT. But he has also attended six high schools in the last five years and a preliminary decision from the NCAA was not in his favor. Also, UConn would have to accept him as a student as well.

With Miles, that would make 14 on paper for the Huskies in 2008. Of course, most expect 7'3 sophomore C Hasheem Thabeet to make himself available for the NBA Draft. The Huskies already have a pair of 2009 commitments from Alex Oriakhi (C) and Jamal Coombs (F). It will be interesting if the Huskies get involved with another big man this spring for 2008.

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BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: CONNECTICUT

June 16, 2007


VERBAL COMMITMENT ALERT: Kemba Walker (PG), Rice High School (NYC)


Projected 2007-2008 Roster:


Juniors: AJ Price (G), Marcus Johnson (WG), Jeff Adrien (F), Craig Austrie (G).
Sophomores: Curtis Kelly (BF/C), Jerome Dyson (G), Jonathan Mandeldove (C), Stanley Robinson (F), Doug Wiggins (PG), Gavin Edwards (PF/C), Hasheem Thabeet (C)
Freshmen: Donnell Beverly (G)
2008 Commitment: Nate Miles (G/F), Kemba Walker (PG)
2009 Commitments: Alex Oriakhi (C), Jamal Coombs (F)

As his recruitment began to blow up this spring with a string of impressive performances with the NY Gauchos, Kemba Walker maintained his preference to play in the Big East and this weekend he made that a reality as Walker Makes Commitment to UConn (Hartford Courant) over Cincinnati and St. John's, among others.

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Kemba Walker, a point guard from Rice High School in New York, made an oral commitment to attend UConn. The 6'2 Rice High School standout has shot up the recruiting boards of many this spring with storng AAU performances, including the Cactus Classic in Phoenix, where he led the New York Gauchos to the championship and was named MVP. Walker made an unofficial visit to UConn last week and decided on UConn shortly after.

Walker joins guard/forward Nate Miles from Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburgh, Mass., as high school seniors-to-be who have committed to UConn. The Huskies have no more scholarships to award. After missing out on Brandon Jennings and Samardo Samuels, UConn got some good recruiting news and hopes the momentum will follow with Ed Davis, a 6-foot-8 forward from Mechanicsville, Va. Davis' Thursday visit to Storrs was his latest unofficial visit - and perhaps his last. Davis, who plays both forward positions, said there is no front-runner among his final three schools, UConn, North Carolina and Virginia. While he hasn't closed the door on any school, he said he is unlikely to make another visit before deciding by the end of July.

With no seniors on their 12-player roster and two verbal for 2008 and 2009, there does not seem to be a lot of action ahead, but UConn always has some irons in the fire.

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2007-2008 CONNECTICUT SNAPSHOT

May 8, 2007


Head Coach: Jim Calhoun
2006-2007 Record: 16-14 (6-10 Big East)

Returning Players:
Marcus Johnson, Junior (Forward/Guard)
Jeff Adrien, Junior (Power Forward)
AJ Price, Junior (Point Guard)
Craig Austrie, Junior (Guard)
Doug Wiggins, Sophomore (Guard)
Jerome Dyson, Sophomore (Guard)
Curtis Kelly, Sophomore (Forward)
Stanley Robinson, Sophomre (Forward)
Jonathan Mandeldove, Sophomore (Center)
Gavin Edwards, Sophomore (Forward/Center)
Hasheem Thabeet, Sophomore (Center)

Incoming Players:
Donnell Bevery (Point Guard)

Transferred Out:
Ben Eaves
Robert Garrison


Open Items/Issues:
When the season concluded Jim Calhoun talked openly about changes to the roster that would prevent another season like the Huskies endured in 2006-2007 where they barely made the Big East Tournament and were not invited to either the NIT or NCAA Tournaments. Shortly after the season Ben Eaves and Robert Garrison made it known that they would not be coming back to the program next season. More rumors persisted and Calhoun even mentioned an unknown player in academic difficulty. However, with Hasheem Thabeet's announcement that he would return for his sophomore season, no additional roster changes have taken place since the end of the season other than a commitment from Donnell Beverly, a California point guard.

Summary:
Last season it was well documented that Connecticut had a roster of 13 freshmen and sophomore and their lack of experience and maturity showed. Individually, the players had elite-level talent, but they were unable to pull together when faced with adversity and would endure painfully long stretches where they could not score the ball and watched the opponent put them away. Athletically, UConn was very gifted and would often make late runs to get back into games when desperation set in, but they had no cohesiveness in the halfcourt game.

Many of last year's issues will be helped by maturity and experience. However, many questions will remain as this team still looks to lack perimeter shooting and strength in the paint. Hasheem Thabeet should show plenty of improvement from his freshman to sophomore season and the 7'3 Center will have a large impact on every game, but he is still raw. Jeff Adrien is a warrior in the paint, but often times had little help as the small forward spot was an area of constant inconsistency that saw Marcus Johnson and Stanley Robinson shuttle in and out of the game. Robinson is probably the player that will key next year's success because he has all the tools to be an elite player in the Big East. The guards also need to show more maturity in managing the game and make sure the Huskies have good possessions when faced with adversity. That was missing from their game last season.

If AJ Price finds his comfort zone and teams with Jerome Dyson, they will be a top-level backcourt that has exciting depth with Doug Wiggins and Craig Austrie. Robinson has the potential to be an all-league performer and Adrien will put up a double-double every night. The frontcourt depth will be a year stronger and Thabeet will be an NBA lottery pick after next season most likely. So, the talent is there and the Huskies should definitely rebound next season and be back in the race for one of the top four spots in the Big East. Don't expect Jim Calhoun to allow any of the Huskies to rest this offseason, there is too much talent on this team and Calhoun has too much pride (ego) to have another subpar season.

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